Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-10-05
REBEL OR LOYALrsT.


addressed by an ex-Confederate soldier to
the Grand Army of the Republic.-America,
Magazine for October.]
was rebel, If you please,
A reckless fighter to the last
Nor do fall upon my knees
| And beg forgiveness for the past
A traitor 1 a traitor? No!
1 was patriot to the core;
The South was mine 1 loved her so,
| 1 gave her ALL could-do no more.
You scowl at me. And was it wrong
| To wear the gray my father wore?
Could I stink back, though young and strong,
From foes before my mothers door?
My mothers kiss was hot with fight;
My fathers frenzy filled bis son;
Through reeking day and sodden night
My sisters courage urged me on,
And l. a missile, stepped in hate.
Hurried forward like cannon ball
By the resistless hand of fate,
Rushed wildly. madly through it all.
I stemmed the level flames of hell;
Ger bayonet bars of death broke':
I was so near when Cleburne fell,
heard the muffled bullet stroke.
But all in vain. With duh despair
I saw the storm of conflict die;
Low lay the southern banner fair,
And yonder flag was waving high.
God! What a triumph had the foeI
Laurel, and arch, and trumpet-blare
All round the earth their songs did go;
laundering through heaven their shouts did
tear.
My mother. gray and bent with years,
Hoarding loves withered aftermath,
Her sweet eyes burnt too dry for tears,
0sat in the dust of sherman's path.
My father. broken. helpless. poor.
A gloomy, nerveless giant stood;
Too strong to cover and endure.
Too weak to fight for masterhood.
My boyhood's home-a blackened heap
Where Lizards crawled and briers grew
Had felt the fire of vengeance creep,
The crashing round shot hurtle through.
had no country all was lost;
closed my eyes and longed to die.
While past me stalked the awful ghost
OF mangled, murdered liberty.
The scars upon my body burned;
felt heel upon my throat;
A heel that ground, and grinding turned
With each triumphal trumpet note.
"Grind on !" cried; "nor doubt that l.
Ifall your necks were one and low
AS m inc is now-delightedly
Would cut it by single blow.
III.
That was dark night; but day is here,
The crowning victory is won;
Hark how the sixty millions cheer.
With fraa ,s Loo the
AM a traitor? Who are you
That dare to breathe that word to me?
You never wore the union blue;
No wounds affirm your loyalty?
do dstest the suffers clerk.
Who skulked and doged till peace had come.
Then found it most congenial work
To beat the politicians drum.
clasp the hand that made my scars,
cheer the flag my foemen bore;
shout for joy to see the stars
All on our common shield once more.
do not cringe before you now.
Or lay my face upon the ground;
l am man, Of men peer,
And not q covering. Gu dgeled hound.
I stand and say that you were right;
1 greet you with uncovered head,
Remembering many a thunderous fight
Where whistling death between us sped.
Remembering those dead boys in gray,
With thoughts too deep and finefor words
1 lift this cup of love to-day
And drink what only love affords.
Soldiers IN blue, health to you!
Long life and vigor oft renewed,
While on your hearts. like honey-dew,
Falls our great cOuntry's oratitudei
MAURICE THOMPSON.